A cruise is without a doubt the best way to see a lot of Alaska at once or to be introduced to Alaska for the first time.  It's also a lot of fun to be pampered and have your own portable hotel.  

My best friend and I took the Insight for Living Cruise with Chuck Swindoll on Holland America's, Nieuw Amsterdam last summer.  This ship is a bit smaller and more subdued than many of the other cruise lines.  It has less of a "carnival" atmosphere and was really pretty quiet.  Loud, party cruises have their place but that isn't what cruising to Alaska is all about in my opinion.  An Alaskan cruise is a bit more laid back, enjoying the scenery and getting away from it all. 

We flew from our home in Ohio to Vancouver, BC Canada then sailed to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.  Fortunately, since the Nieuw Amsterdam is a bit smaller so we were small enough to go into Glacier Bay.. Wow!, Words cannot define the majesty of this place.  It was incredible!

We had so much fun on our cruise and we made some great new friends, worshiped together with the Insight for Living group and celebrated the beauty of God's creation. It was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July too (photos posted below). 

A video of our trip posted here and more videos are posted below. 

Things I learned on my cruise:

• Pack a power strip.  There are never enough plugs in the staterooms (usually only one).  Pack travel mugs.  It's nice to be able to stop at the buffet anytime and take your coffee with you around the ship. 
• Spring for the balcony in your room.  Trust me on this.  We spent more time there than anywhere else on the ship. Also, the aft of the ship has the best views and is pretty peaceful. We thought maybe there would be too much engine noise but really enjoyed the sound  of the water. This is the best place to be if you get to go to Glacier Bay.  The ship decks can get a little crowded.  On your balcony, you can sit down, drink coffee and enjoy the trip. The captain will turn the ship 360 degrees. No worries, you will see everything!
• Take binoculars for wildlife viewing as well as a camera (or as in my case, cameras). 
• Downy Wrinkle Releaser is your friend. 
• Pack/dress in layers, layers and more layers. The weather can be anything from 40 and cold rain to 80's....in one day.  You will want base layers for warmth, a fleece jacket and an outer rain coat.  Gloves and a hat are a must. You will also need these things if you take any excursions.  Ice is cold (duh). Even if it is 80 degrees in the port towns, the glaciers and boat rides are very cool. Boots are not necessary unless you plan to do any hiking. 
• Buy the patch. If you think you might get sea sick (and even if you don't-just in case). The patch really works!